Florida’s dental care access woes can’t wait | Opinion

Imagine living in a constant state of dental pain and not knowing where to turn for help.

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many Floridians throughout our state, particularly those living in rural and underserved areas. We have seen this firsthand, by practicing in such areas and volunteering to provide dental care to those in need.

There is no shortage of dentists in Florida. Hundreds of dentists graduate from Florida dental schools each year. However, they are graduating with an average of at least $250,000 in student loan debt, and that is driving them to practice in areas where they can earn enough to cover that debt.

Dr. Myron Schrock(Photo: Your Turn)

The Florida Dental Association urges support for SB 716 and HB 465, which would establish a dental student loan repayment program for dentists who practice as Medicaid providers serving low-income patients in underserved and rural areas.

Re-establishing a dental student loan repayment program will bring dentists to areas where they are needed most. Participating dentists may receive up to $50,000 a year to help repay their loans and serve in the program for up to five years. In five years, 10 participating dentists would treat at least one million Floridians. Florida is one of only five states without a dental student loan repayment program. The return on investment for this program is significant, as it will help lower the number of people who turn to the emergency room to relieve dental pain.

We know from firsthand experience that a dentist who participates in a student loan repayment program can stay and build a practice in that area. This program provides dentists the opportunity to provide critical dental care, establish ties in the community, and reduce their debt load.

The FDA does not support proposals to create a new licensed provider called a dental therapist. Dental therapists receive three years of training, in addition to a high school degree, and perform procedures including local anesthesia and tooth extractions while under general supervision, which means the dentist does not have to be in the same building, or even state, and does not have to check the work.

If legislation passed to create a dental therapy program, it would take at least five years before the first dental therapist could be licensed. Dental therapy legislation passed in Maine in 2014 and Vermont in 2016, and neither state has established a dental therapy program.

Proponents point to Minnesota’s dental therapy program, which passed in 2009, as evidence of success.

However, Minnesota risked losing federal funding for its Medical Assistance program because not enough children covered by Medicaid received preventive dental care – only 37 percent in 2015, which dropped to 36 percent in 2017. This year the Minnesota Legislature is again facing calls for action to address the state’s access to care problem.

Floridians are in pain. We can’t continue to put off addressing this when we can provide solutions now.

We urge our lawmakers to support SB 716 and HB 465 to bring immediate relief, preventive care, and the highest standard of dental care to all Floridians.

Dr. Jolene Paramore is the president of the Florida Dental Association and a practicing dentist in Panama City. Dr. Myron Schrock is a practicing dentist in Blountstown and a participant of the former Florida Health Service Corps student loan repayment program, which is no longer running.

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